Meet the Krämer GP2-R: The KTM-powered racer making waves in the BSB paddock

If you’ve been to a British Superbike championship round this year, chances are you will have heard the distinctive deep growl of a parallel-twin cutting through the cacophony of four-cylinders and triples in the supersport races.

Unlike any other machine on the grid, what you’re hearing is the German-made Krämer GP2-R – a KTM 890 Duke powered track-ready racer, which has already claimed multiple championship podiums this year and lies seventh in the 2022 standings.

Ridden to success by vastly experienced pilot, Barry Burrell, the bike is now available to customers in the UK for £27,120 (excluding VAT and delivery) and is billed as a bespoke track-only machine – with no road-legal homologation despite the routes of its Austrian engine.

“The thing that attracted me to them is the fact that they are designed first and foremost as a race bike,” UK importer Eddie Roberts told MCN on the eve of this past weekend’s BSB meeting at Oulton Park. “You can use all 130 horsepower because it’s not going to scare the pants off you.

“The other thing is they are very easy to maintain because the engine is from the 890 Duke. It’s not hugely stressed and has been very reliable, with a distinctive sound.”

Eddie continued to say that despite its current racing success, many of the UK bikes sold have been for trackday purposes – with features such as an electric start allowing you to roll up pitlane for a day of fun, without the need for a backup crew.

Housing the 889cc two-cylinder motor is a steel trellis chassis, which is shrouded by a set of reinforced fibreglass bodywork, left blank for you to decorate in your desired livery.

Helping to boost the engine to around 128bhp from the standard 113bhp is a full racing exhaust system, with power fed to the ground via a Translogic quickshifter.

The Krämer also comes suspended by standard issue 43mm WP closed cartridge forks and fully adjustable WP rear shock (the BSB racer gets Maxton units) as well as a pair of forged Dymag wheels to reduce un-sprung weight and increase cornering capabilities.

And speaking of weight, Krämer are also claiming an overall dry mass of just 140kg – with stopping power then provided by front Brembo Stylema Calipers, which bite onto dual 290mm fully floating discs.

“There has been quite a lot of interest and even though they are 27-odd-grand it’s a lot of bike for the money,” Eddie continued. “You’d be hard pushed to make a Stock 600 bike for that these days.

“We’ve done the racing very much this year on a wing and a prayer, but we are now looking for a proper package next year.”

Kramer GP2R in detail

Dashingly clever: Nestled between the CNC machined clip-on bars is an AIM dashboard containing all your vital information.

Map it out: For optimum performance in all conditions the Krämer gets adjustable engine braking, as well as different mapping for wet and dry tack time.

History lesson: Krämer first began with the single cylinder engine from the now deceased KTM 690 Duke. A bike using this engine is still available for £21,000, called the HKR Evo2-R.

Stepping up: The first GP2-Rs arrived in England towards the back end of 2021, with bikes competing in British GP2 for the first time this year.

More on the way: During our conversation with Eddie, he confirmed an RR version was on the way for 2023 complete with more horsepower and sharper suspension components. Watch this space.

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German firm launch KTM 790 Duke powered GP2R racer

First published on 25 July 2019 by Dan Sutherland

German specialist race bike builders Krämer Motorcycles have revealed that their latest GP2R machine, which uses KTM’s parallel-twin 790 Duke engine within an all-new trellis frame, will be available from spring 2020.

Alongside a new frame with adjustable steering head angle, the €29,990 (around £26,799) GP2R also receives work to the engine to achieve a larger displacement of 890cc, as well as fully-adjustable WP suspension.

A second 850cc version is also being developed to be eligible for the US club racing scene, with both machines gaining a programmable engine control system. 

Weighing just 140kg, the bike’s revised engine is said to produce 128.2bhp and 73.8ftlb of torque. Upon request, this can be maintained via an exclusive ‘Track Service Package’ in collaboration with Swiss firm Speedbox, who can also store, service and transport your machine. What’s more, technical support is also available during race meetings and training.

Unveiled to the public at Barber Motorsports Park Vintage Festival, Alabama, this latest bike follows the firm’s past success in developing the HKR EVO2 single-cylinder project, which used a KTM LC4 engine to win the European Supermono Championship twice.

Speaking about the project in a statement last year, Owner of Krämer Motorcycles, Markus Krämer, said: “This is an important moment for our still young but already established company. It’s time to take the next step using the experience from the past five years.

“KTM, with its 790 Duke, offered an engine that was predestined to inspire us to go ahead with the ‘GP2’ project. Our know-how in construction and our production competence assured we were able to develop a fantastic racing bike based on the twin-cylinder concept.”

For some added individuality, those who order a bike before October 1, 2019 are able to choose the colour of both the frame and the entire fairing set at no extra cost.